As an educator, I witness the negative effects negativism and typecasting has on the individual psyche. If we take societies as a leviathan, that is, entities that think, live, breathe and act like individuals in the realist sense, we may be onto something when trying to understand how societies, just like individuals react under certain pressures. As a result, this examination will try and use the central tenets of “existentialism” examining the questions: “Who am I?” and, “How I should live my life”, alienation and the corresponding radicalization of youth and societies. As a result, this examination will try to come to grips with phenomena that are not that new, yet relevant in today’s exclusive world, that separates the “have” and the “have nots”. Sometimes this separation then leads to mass atrocity and the disruption of lives. The dehumanization of the “Other” makes some think it is OK, break others down and eventually take the “others” life, through terrorism and or resulting combat.
This separation can be called the “Us” vs “Them” dichotomy. Societally speaking “Us” can be considered the developed major economies which propagate and inclusive society. While “them” can be considered the rest of the world or the “Bad Guys” who are vilified and dehumanised in the media. Now the “Us” who propagate inclusiveness, need not to understand how quickly you become excluded if you do not toe the line and or become typecast as an enemy, typical modern day McCarthyism. It seems that for the functioning of modern day “Us” societies, we need an enemy. Just like the “haves” in school need the “Have-not’s” to feel a sense of privilege and superiority.
Using existentialism may be needed in the curriculum to examine these questions publicly. So, to examine the question, “Who am I,” and “How should I live my life” is crucial in trying to be able to foster inclusive attitude early on in one’s development. Yes, a developed mind is what we are after. A mind that understands that you cannot get away with vilifying others or typecasting. So, the question of “Who am I,” and from experience I can tell you that most people are very hard on themselves. And the question, “How I should live my life?” All make the inner struggles of the being and societal elasticity when navigating the road time has offered us. “US” in this sense is the complete universe. No separation, totally inclusive universe. This mega view, should give us the perspective that we and our little problems are minute. For an example, if our sun runs out of gas, it may explode and swallow up the earth in a supernova. This may not happen, but if it did, we would have nothing to squabble about anymore.
WHO AM I?
Examining the question, “Who am I?” allows one to understand the need to practice self-reflection and to really think about one’s effect on the ones around them. If one thinks that they have nothing to add and maybe live a life that is not worth living we may have a problem. If one has grandiose thoughts and plans but cannot make them a reality we may have a problem as well. If one cannot work well with others but fits in with the “other” how is this then, to be explained. Who is the bad guy? Is it “Us” the ones who try to promote inclusiveness and material wealth as a gauge to success. Or is it the “Other,” who has been alienated and lives in terror and fear everyday because of war, lack of basic necessities and standard of living. Now to paint the world in black and white may be condescending and irrational, however, if we dissect what we all receive in our living rooms who is more arrogant.
Maybe the lessons that are suppose to be taught could be only taught through the dramatic arts. Why do we need real life episodes of tragedy, atrocity and hardship. If we turn the question around on ourselves as people of a state what questions are we answering? What is my state’s role in the world? Who am I in relation to my state? Do I agree with the actions of my State? Are there better alternatives to how my state is acting? What power do I have to change how my state is acting? For “US” it seems that yes we can change the way our state acts, but how many are willing to live in poverty as a result of it? Therefore, the “Who am I,” question is relevant to today’s war mongering and battlecries in the fight of public opinion. Once again, I am but one, who calls on all peace loving peoples to ignore these push and pull factors to create personal and familiar sanctuaries. Personal and familiar sanctuaries are a necessity in down time so that one can remain sane after the bombardment of American McCarthyism as well as calls for a modern day Caliphate. In essence, they are doing the same thing in each separate sphere of influence.
HOW SHOULD I LIVE MY LIFE?
This question is central to any individual and the choices one makes may increase future potential and other choices may ruin one’s life in an exclusive society that is not that responsive to rehabilitation and re-education. Yes, when one is an adult, our choices mean a lot more, however, if we make education a lifelong process, rehabilitation and the resulting feelings on inclusivity reign supreme. Therefore, forgiveness and the feelings one gets when they get a second and third chance to make things right, go hand in hand. As a result, how is one supposed to know how to live in the world if they were not given the chance to navigate through our universe?
As a result, publically examining the question as to how I should live my life, is a great exercise in creating an understanding and modeling out your ideal existence. If you understand that your life is negatively affecting others then one can either fix their own problems or wait until the next problem occurs. This superimposed on the state can and will garner the same answers. So the “Clash of Civilazations” by Huntington has some relation here. If we try to answer the questions: Is my state a legitimate actor for the benefit of the universe or are they simply acting out of the interest of a few privileged individuals or elite? Has my country acted in accordance to peacekeeping and making principles in the past and relevant future? Does my country respect living lives or do they use terms like “collateral damage?” Does my country truly act in accordance to ethical principles or do they simply cherry pick what seems to sound like it works at the time?
ALIENATION:
If you answered, no to some of those questions then it seems that you may not feel like you are a part of your society or resulting common universe. In the supermarket of states, one can try and navigate systems and peoples. One thing is for certain, an inherent prefabricated “Clash of Civilizations,” only works for the privileged few and the ones who enrich themselves fighting it, with resulting chaos and misery upon millions of innocent people. In the world of international anarchy there is little we can do to fight this without people power and mass movements. However, morale is low.
In the classroom, it can be picking on one person without agreement. It can be excusing to do your job by indicating lack of effort. It is easy to lay the blame on an alienated student and or state. The hard part is trying to make them feel welcome in an unwelcome atmosphere. Therefore, inclusiveness takes more than a smile and welcoming tone. It takes a responsible individual and responsible societies which welcome and give many second and third chances to make things right. In the USA there is a phenomenon call the high school to jail pipeline. If this is to be stopped teachers need to know, understand and be willing to give all their students all the opportunities in the world as to “plug” this pipeline.
So how can states feel alienation. One is to have a state that uses its religion as its main tenants. Therefore, not church state separation. How is this not in accordance with post-secularism? The reaction to these new states and desire to practice ones religion may not be in accordance to all, but if it is in accordance to the majority, thus, tyranny of the majority, it should be allowed. In no way, are these societies holding their populaces hostage, they are just saying if you do not like it go elsewhere. Therefore, countries like Canada are used as a place of re-education and second chances.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INCLUSIVE? The Global Citizen.
To be inclusive means that all walks of life are to be considered equal and thus granted the chances all of us deserve. If that means three meals every day and the right to create one’s own personal sanctuary, we may be onto something. A society who looks after the interests of the universe and not just one’s own segregated interests, we also may be onto something. Yes a simple smile and a how are you doing today? Does wonders in the communications and customer service departments. We also need to make sure individuals are not subject to long terms of isolation if living freely amongst others. How accomplish this? I am not sure.
An inclusive society will self-reflect and right the wrongs of the past seriously and in a believable manner. Also, trying to get away with atrocity simply because you’re the big guy on the block of international anarchy, is not how civilized action should play out. The central factors to inclusivity are to understand how the mind works and how the body reacts to its perceptions and understanding of them. As a result, when one does not understand ones surroundings, how will one react. Similarities, between and within cultures are uniform. From experience teaching in the West, Mideast (North Africa) and China the needs and wants of developing children are all the same. They want to fit in! They need and want to communicate and have fun doing so. Homework and all the pressures associated with not being able to attain a score can and will drive some insane. Yes, some need the score while others do not, that is the lovely reality of unequal distribution of wealth.
For the lucky ones, inclusivity will mean finding a love of their lives, reproduce and raise another generation without flaw. This can and does work in most societies. Those who do not try to understand how a society works and the benefits of a different way of thinking can and will be alienated outside of their home as well as in it. Consequently, a uniform global society will have to understand that for the ones that care, celebrating our differences, is the only way to find commonality, whether, it be through sharing a meal and drink to name only one way.
When societies do not feel like they are welcome, it must take a society of good-doers. Ones that are not afraid to act on one’s intuition. Act as if you were in trouble and do what you would like others to do without any alterior motive. That is, not for the benefit of my community, but basically out of the bottom of your humanistic heart. Yes, this might cause some trouble for even for my realist mind. So, helping another means, putting yourself in another’s shoes. The pressures of inclusivity, mean helping without the need to reciprocate for those not able to reciprocate or even willing. This is the meaning of inclusivity, yet, give many the right to feel included.
With the ability to get citizenship very difficult at home and abroad those that get into places like Canada are lucky where citizenship is easy when acting through legal channels. The USA on the other hand, life can be tough for those trying to obtain citizenship. Now, we have the “Chinese Dream,” one that will see many of the youth prosper as well as many of the developing nations in the world which will benefit from their growing economy. Creating spheres of influence, with nations acting with a helping hand and not pouting over forgiven debt, never mind pouting, but the wholesale turning their back on continents like Africa. Sorry, China, can you help us with international responsibilities and setting the Nation of China with unreasonable responsibilities for a nation with many who can use the extra help. The same could be said for the “US” camp.
For generations China has been the outsider and continually get the short end of the stick whether it be dealings in the South China Sea or dealings as minuscule as the one child policy. Well, if I were able to afford a child I would have had one a long time ago. So, if more than a billion people can afford one to a certain standard of living is an accomplishment. So, these little disagreements should not be degraded as different or thus created “other”. They should be celebrated and educated on the matter as to the historical significance of such decisions and what they meant to the society or state at that time.
As for today, globalization and correspondingly interconnectedness have made some able to cope with differences and others not. As aforementioned, we need good doers ones able to handle the ones who see the light as well as the ones who will eventually see it. Being in the business of developing global citizens, this is paramount.
CONCLUSION:
Inclusivity, means the ability to use a common sense approach to living, one that one can and will know how they treat people and the results of their actions. The same can be said with the dealings of states. I am sure that no one deserves to be collateral damage and with the millions plus members of humanity who perished and or are trying to resettle in the Mideast, when will we make up for that? I am just afraid that I will see the day when the black sheep are in the majority? Who’s tyranny will be superior, whose love will conquer. Maybe, I’m not afraid!
References:
Aho, Kevin. “Existentialism: An Introduction.” (Malden, MA), Polity Press (2014)
Herbert, Bob. “School to Prison Pipeline,” New York Times (New York, New York), June 9,2009.
Huntington, Samuel. “Clash of Civilizations.” Foreign Affairs ___________________fill in the blank.
Swain, Dan. “Alienation: Introduction to Marx’s Theory,” (London), January 20012.
B Freethinkers 